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07-14-03: Couple suspected in more area robberies
By TIMOTHY COX
The Daily Standard
   
    Law enforcement officials believe the husband and wife arrested Friday evening in connection with the robbery of the Celina CVS Pharmacy are the culprits in a string of similar crimes here and across Indiana.
    Celina Police Chief Dave Slusser this morning confirmed that authorities believe they have nabbed a Fort Wayne, Ind. ,couple responsible for eight thefts of the prescription narcotic OxyContin from area pharmacies. The duo was taken into custody less than 30 minutes after people matching their description were involved in the armed robbery of the CVS store at the corner of Main Street and Myers Road on the north edge of Celina.
    Slusser confirmed this morning the male suspect brandished a gun and then made off with an undisclosed amount of Oxy-Contin. The man was found hiding in the backseat of a car when it was stopped north of Celina near the intersection of U.S. 127 and Ohio 707.
    The names of the suspects have not been released pending the filing of formal charges. They were scheduled to appear in Celina Municipal Court this afternoon. The 32-year-old woman and 28-year-old man are being held in the Mercer County Jail.
    Working with other law enforcement jurisdictions, authorities have decided the pair likely are responsible for a prior robbery at the Celina CVS store and for similar crimes in Kokomo, Plymouth, Berne, Decatur and Marion, all in Indiana. The Marion location also was struck twice, Slusser said.
    After facing local charges, the spouses likely would have to appear in each county in Indiana where they will be charged, Slusser said. Federal charges also could be filed. A federal task force based in Fort Wayne has been investigating the thefts.
    The suspects were apprehended when an off-duty Celina police officer spotted a car matching the description given by witnesses only minutes after Friday night's robbery. The officer followed the vehicle in his private vehicle until marked law enforcement cruisers caught up with the procession.

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